W. H. Weeks
Encyclopedia
William Henry Weeks was an early 20th century architect
who designed hundreds of buildings including many schools, banks, and libraries. He was well-known for his monumental Greek Revival neoclassical
style of architecture, although he also employed other architectural styles. His offices were based in various parts of the San Francisco Bay area
throughout his career. Weeks designed hundreds of structures in over 161 California
n cities, as well as several buildings in Nevada
and Oregon
. Many of his buildings are still standing and some are still in use.
, Prince Edward Island
, Canada
on January 18, 1862, the fourth child of Richard and Margaret Weeks. In 1885 Weeks graduated from the Brinker Institute, a co-educational day and boarding school
that was open for a short time in Denver, Colorado. After the family moved to their new home in Wichita, Kansas
, Weeks began his career working with his father as a builder and designer.
, but she died before the wedding took place. Meanwhile Weeks' family had moved to Tacoma, Washington
, but he returned to Indiana and asked his late fiancée's sister Maggie for her hand in marriage. She accepted and they were married in 1891, at the bride's home in Charlestown. He and his wife would later have nine children, of whom only five survived to adulthood. They moved to Tacoma for a period, but eventually moved to Oakland, California
along with Weeks' family.
In 1894 Weeks opened an office in Watsonville
, and was employed as the designer for several projects in town. His business prospered, and in 1897 he opened a branch office in Salinas
, where he then spent part of his work-week. As Weeks' business continued to grow, he began to bid to design buildings in Monterey
, Pacific Grove
, Santa Cruz
, and many other parts of Northern California. In the middle of the 1890s Weeks had moved his family to Watsonville, and when he was in town he was active in his church, teaching Sunday School class when he could. Weeks was also involved in his community at large: he helped draw up the new city charter for Watsonville and volunteered for many years on the YMCA
Board of Directors.
By 1899 Weeks began to invest in real estate in Watsonville, and during his lifetime he accumulated a sizable amount of local property.
In 1905, Weeks opened another branch office in San Francisco, at 251 Kearney Street, and he was in the city, staying at a hotel, when the 1906 Earthquake hit. Fortunately he was unharmed. He was already busy designing numerous buildings along the California coast and Northern California during 1905, and the earthquake in the Bay Area increased his work load, as he designed and built replacements for many buildings damaged by the quake and the fires in the aftermath.
Weeks' reputation grew because he built many of the Carnegie Libraries
in Northern and Central California
. However, he actually designed more school buildings than libraries. Local newspapers praised him for his safe and practical school designs.
After 18 years in Watsonville, Weeks decided to move to Palo Alto in 1911, to be closer to his business in San Francisco and the Bay Area in general. He moved yet again in 1922 when he decided his family needed a larger and more spacious home. He designed and built a Spanish Revival house in Piedmont, California
at a cost of $20,000.
In 1924 Weeks took his son Harold as his business partner and renamed the business "Weeks and Weeks." The same year a new branch office was opened in Oakland, followed by another in San Jose
in 1926. In 1928 Weeks' was one of the largest and oldest architectural firms in California. His staff included many licensed architects, engineers, and other specialists. As the business grew, with the direction of Weeks and the company directors, the Weeks Securities Corporation was formed, with the goal of managing the organizing and financing of commercial building properties.
Between 1930 and 1932, Weeks had to deal with many setbacks in his business dealings. In 1930 it was rumored that the Weeks Securities Corporation was $300,000 in debt, but the allegation was found to be incorrect. In 1931, after an investigation, the corporation's license to sell stock was suspended on the grounds that stockholders' money was being "misappropriated." Two employees, one of whom was married to Weeks' niece, left after things became "hot and heavy." In the fall of 1931, the state revoked Weeks' license as an architect after a contractor accused him of inflating four building contracts in the East Bay
. The charges were later dismissed and his license reinstated, but Weeks was reprimanded for "gross negligence in performance of contractual duties."
In 1932 Weeks was 68 years old and still very much active. He was bothered by recurring heart problems (chronic inflammation of the heart), but still maintained his active lifestyle. In 1935 Weeks had a heart attack, which temporarily slowed him down, but he resumed his active pace for several more months until he died in his home in Piedmont on April 29, 1936. In his will Weeks left his architectural business solely to his son Harold, and left nothing to his other children, stating that his wife "will provide for them as she may be able." He left her the entire remainder of his estate.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who designed hundreds of buildings including many schools, banks, and libraries. He was well-known for his monumental Greek Revival neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
style of architecture, although he also employed other architectural styles. His offices were based in various parts of the San Francisco Bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
throughout his career. Weeks designed hundreds of structures in over 161 California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n cities, as well as several buildings in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Many of his buildings are still standing and some are still in use.
Early life
William Henry Weeks was born in CharlottetownCharlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on January 18, 1862, the fourth child of Richard and Margaret Weeks. In 1885 Weeks graduated from the Brinker Institute, a co-educational day and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
that was open for a short time in Denver, Colorado. After the family moved to their new home in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, Weeks began his career working with his father as a builder and designer.
Family and business life
Weeks became engaged to one of the Haymaker girls who lived in Charlestown, IndianaCharlestown, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,993 people, 2,341 households, and 1,615 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,570.0 people per square mile . There were 2,489 housing units at an average density of 1,067.4 per square mile...
, but she died before the wedding took place. Meanwhile Weeks' family had moved to Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, but he returned to Indiana and asked his late fiancée's sister Maggie for her hand in marriage. She accepted and they were married in 1891, at the bride's home in Charlestown. He and his wife would later have nine children, of whom only five survived to adulthood. They moved to Tacoma for a period, but eventually moved to Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
along with Weeks' family.
In 1894 Weeks opened an office in Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
, and was employed as the designer for several projects in town. His business prospered, and in 1897 he opened a branch office in Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, where he then spent part of his work-week. As Weeks' business continued to grow, he began to bid to design buildings in Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, and many other parts of Northern California. In the middle of the 1890s Weeks had moved his family to Watsonville, and when he was in town he was active in his church, teaching Sunday School class when he could. Weeks was also involved in his community at large: he helped draw up the new city charter for Watsonville and volunteered for many years on the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Board of Directors.
By 1899 Weeks began to invest in real estate in Watsonville, and during his lifetime he accumulated a sizable amount of local property.
In 1905, Weeks opened another branch office in San Francisco, at 251 Kearney Street, and he was in the city, staying at a hotel, when the 1906 Earthquake hit. Fortunately he was unharmed. He was already busy designing numerous buildings along the California coast and Northern California during 1905, and the earthquake in the Bay Area increased his work load, as he designed and built replacements for many buildings damaged by the quake and the fires in the aftermath.
Weeks' reputation grew because he built many of the Carnegie Libraries
Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library, Carnegie Public Library, Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie Free Public Library, Andrew Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie Free Library or Carnegie Library Building may refer to any of the following Carnegie libraries:- California :*Carnegie Library , listed on the National Register...
in Northern and Central California
Central California
Central California, sometimes referenced as Mid-State, is an area of California south of the San Francisco Bay Area and north of Southern California...
. However, he actually designed more school buildings than libraries. Local newspapers praised him for his safe and practical school designs.
After 18 years in Watsonville, Weeks decided to move to Palo Alto in 1911, to be closer to his business in San Francisco and the Bay Area in general. He moved yet again in 1922 when he decided his family needed a larger and more spacious home. He designed and built a Spanish Revival house in Piedmont, California
Piedmont, California
Piedmont is a small, affluent city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is surrounded by the city of Oakland. The population was 10,667 at the 2010 census. Piedmont was incorporated in 1907 and was developed significantly in the 1920s and 1930s...
at a cost of $20,000.
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
in 1926. In 1928 Weeks' was one of the largest and oldest architectural firms in California. His staff included many licensed architects, engineers, and other specialists. As the business grew, with the direction of Weeks and the company directors, the Weeks Securities Corporation was formed, with the goal of managing the organizing and financing of commercial building properties.
Between 1930 and 1932, Weeks had to deal with many setbacks in his business dealings. In 1930 it was rumored that the Weeks Securities Corporation was $300,000 in debt, but the allegation was found to be incorrect. In 1931, after an investigation, the corporation's license to sell stock was suspended on the grounds that stockholders' money was being "misappropriated." Two employees, one of whom was married to Weeks' niece, left after things became "hot and heavy." In the fall of 1931, the state revoked Weeks' license as an architect after a contractor accused him of inflating four building contracts in the East Bay
East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States...
. The charges were later dismissed and his license reinstated, but Weeks was reprimanded for "gross negligence in performance of contractual duties."
In 1932 Weeks was 68 years old and still very much active. He was bothered by recurring heart problems (chronic inflammation of the heart), but still maintained his active lifestyle. In 1935 Weeks had a heart attack, which temporarily slowed him down, but he resumed his active pace for several more months until he died in his home in Piedmont on April 29, 1936. In his will Weeks left his architectural business solely to his son Harold, and left nothing to his other children, stating that his wife "will provide for them as she may be able." He left her the entire remainder of his estate.